Bengaluru: Seeking the removal of tainted Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao, Opposition parties namely the BJP and the JD(S) on Tuesday, November 18, petitioned Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa to initiate the process for his ouster over an alleged extortion racket involving his son Yerabati Ashwin.
Ashwin with his associates had allegedly misused the Lokayukta office by blackmailing government employees and extorting crores of rupees from them. As reports of the scam surfaced in the media, the Deputy Lokayukta ordered the Lokayukta SP to set an investigation which revealed that Ashwin on was at fault.
During the investigation, Lokayukta Rao reportedly intervened and directed cops to discontinue the investigation. He is also said to have written a letter to the government seeking a special investigation into the case.
In this background, the government setup a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to probe into the case. On the other hand, public organizations, the bar association and several prominent personalities expressed displeasure over the racket. They demanded that Rao should bear moral responsibility and tender his resignation.
The SIT has already arrested Justice Rao’s son Yerabati Ashwin and filed an FIR and charge-sheet against him. The charge-sheet comprising all details of the alleged corruption has been submitted to the Assembly.
Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa has announced that he will convene a meeting of floor leaders of all parties in the Legislative Assembly and Council on Thursday evening to discuss the petition given by the BJP and JD(S) on removing Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Rao after which the future course of action will be decided upon.
